GMC Sierra Owners Manual
Filling the TankDriving and Operating / Fuel / Filling the Tank
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the Duramax diesel supplement for more information.
WARNING
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and others, read and follow all the instructions on the fuel pump island. Turn off the engine when refueling. Do not smoke near fuel or when refueling the vehicle. Do not use cellular phones. Keep sparks, flames, and smoking materials away from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump unattended when refueling the vehicle. This is against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while pumping fuel. Keep children away from the fuel pump; never let children pump fuel.
The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged fuel door on the driver side of the vehicle. Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge and a yellow fuel cap can use either unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on page 9‑76.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly counterclockwise.
WARNING
Fuel can spray out on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly.
If you spill fuel and then something ignites it, you could be badly burned. This spray can happen if the tank is nearly full, and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait for any hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way.
If the vehicle is a dual fuel tank chassis cab model, and it runs out of fuel, refuel the front fuel tank first to ensure a quick restart.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overfill the tank and wait a few seconds after you have finished pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel from painted surfaces as soon as possible. See Exterior Care on page 10‑102.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until it clicks. It will require more effort to turn the fuel cap on the last turn as you tighten it. Make sure the cap is fully installed. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 5‑25.
The TIGHTEN GAS CAP message displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not properly installed. See Fuel System Messages on page 5‑46 for more information.
WARNING
If a fire starts while you are refueling, do not remove the nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by shutting off the pump or by notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Notice: If a new fuel cap is needed, be sure to get the right type of cap from your dealer. The wrong type of fuel cap might not fit properly, might cause the malfunction indicator lamp to light, and could damage the fuel tank and emissions system. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 5‑25.
